Fuse for bombs



Filed July 15, 1945 Sept. s, 195o Y Patented Sept. 5, 1950 FUSE Foa oMs Leo '.r. Meister, Hillside, N. J.

Application July 13, 1946, Serial No. 683,378

11 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in fuzes for bombs and is designed more particularly for use on aerial bombs for attacking submarines, or other subaqueous targets. It is operative on a bomb which is subjected to an impact with the surface of the water and an impact with the target, the former impact arming the fuze and the latter impact causing the fuze to explode the bomb. The particularly novel feature of my improved fuze is the means provided for maintaining the fuze unarmed before and after it is dropped until its impact with the surface of the water, for arming the fuze by such impact while preventing exploding of the bomb by such impact, and for exploding the bomb by its impact on the target.

The structure and operation of the fuze of this invention is substantially equivalent to the fuze of my invention described and claimed in my application Serial Number 683,966, led July 16, 1946, relating to a mechanically detonated fuze.

The fuze described and claimed in this application has a novel and useful feature not possessed by the fuze described and claimed in my said coincident application, viz, means to disarm the fuze should the bomb fail to hit the target. This disarming is secured by hydrostatic means operating when the bomb sinks to a depth in the water at which the pressure is sufficient to cause the disarming means to function.

While I have illustrated in the drawing filed herewith and have hereinafter fully described one specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not consider my invention to be limited to said specific embodiment, but refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, partly in elevation, of a bomb provided with my improved fuze, the parts being shown in unarmed position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the parts in firing position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section, partly in elevation, showing parts in position to disarm the fuze.

As illustrated in the drawing, my improved fuze is applied to a bomb intended for launching from a plane for attack on a submarine. The bomb has a charge-carrying head I with nose 2 and tail 3. A hollow-cone charge 4 is carried in head I and provided with booster charge C in container 5 threaded into thev forward end of body 6 threaded into the forward end of tail 31 and extending forwardly into charge 4. The bodyA or first member 6 has an axial bore 1 extending rearwardly from container 5 to a transverse bore 8 in body 6. Slidablej iii bore 8, there is a Vblock or second member 9 made of any suitable dielectric material. The block is urged upwardly 'in bore 8, by coil spring I3 seated in bottom of 'bore 8, and has two spaced transverse bores II and I2. The bore II is so positioned in block il'asV to be brought into and out of axial alignment with bore "i by reciprocation of block 9. Bore II extends through block 9 and hasthreaded therein a container I3 for an electric squib I4 connected by wire W to a eld coil I5 mounted'V in bore II and connected by wire W-I with an electric contact member I6 extending forwardly into a slot I1 in the forward face of block 9. A second contact member I8 is also disposed in slot I1 adjacentV contact I6 and is connected by wire W-2 to the squib I. A pin i9 threaded inbody 6 projects into slot I'i in the path of contacts I6 and I8 whereby the contacts are brought into engagement when block 9 `is moved by spring I0` The container I3 and coil I5A are'disposed forwardly in bore I I so that the forinto one position.

ward end of container I3 precisely registers with the forward face of block 9 and the rear face of coil I5 is spaced forwardly of the rear face ofV blockQ to form a socket 26 at the rear end of the bore I I.

a socket 23 coaxial with its bore l and opening rearwardly from bore 8. A suitable permanent' magnet 24 is seated in socket 23. The two 'sock-V ets 2li and 23 are so designed and related, thatwhen the block 9 is moved to bring its-bore II into line with bore l, sockets 26 and 23 register. The body 6 has a socket 25 so disposed relative toV a hydrostatic diaphragm 2 (Figs. 1 and 3) connected by rod 28 to an ejector 29 slidable in sock-Y et 26.' 'I he tail 3V has a socket 33 co-axial with bore I3V and so designed as to receive the upper portion of blck 9 therein when block 9 is fully raised by its spring I0. The

K socket 30'is ,closed by plus 3l and seal 32.

Y The bore I2 extends into the block 9? from its rear face and receives therein a bolt or latch v2l urged rearwardly by a coil-spring 22V seated in forward end of bore l2. The body 6 has# The parts may be assembled in the following manner:

Magnet 24 is passed either through bore I or bore 8 and seated in socket 23. The container I3, squib I4 and coil I5 with wiring are positioned in block 9. Bolt 2| with its spring 22 is placed in bore I2 Iand pushed inwardly to permit block 9- to slide downwardly in bore 8 to seat on its spring I0. The bolt 2l is held in block 9, as it passes socket 26, by any suitable tool inserted through rear face of body 6. Block 9 is forced downwardly suiciently to seat bolt 2l in-socket 25 holding spring under maximum compression., Pin I9is seated in slot I'I over contacts I6 and IB; Con'- tainer is then screwed into the accommodating l recess until bore 3 is coaxial with socket 3Il,inA body 6 which is mounted in tail 3. A safety pin P maybe passed through tail 3 and body` GacrossV bore4 B to lock block 9 in .unarmed or depressed position. Ejector 29 is passed through open socket. 30. and bore 8 and seated in socket 26. Rod 28` is positioned to connect ejector 29 with diaphragm 2.1. Plug 3l is placed to close. socket 3ll .and seal 32 is applied.'f. .(harge 4 is placed in head I and nose 2 applied thereto.

When the bomb is about to be launched, the safety. pin P is removed and the bomb is maintained -unarmed by bolt2I seated in socket 25 restraining,v block 9 against upward movement, and` thereby maintaining the lead in train interrupted. Also, when the block 9 isr held in this position, theL two electric contacts I6 and Idarecoutof engagementand the circuit through the squib I4 is open (Fig. l).

vWhenthe bomb isdroppedfrom thepIaneand strikesthe water, the impact is sucientto cause thebolt 2! to move forwardlyagainst its spring22 out of socket 25, thereby releasingblock 9 `which is projected upwardly by its spring I0, lthe block. 97 andits associated parts assuming their positions illustrated in Fig., 2. The bore. I I is alignedv with .bore4 'l and the lead in train is uninterrupted. .Alsothe contacts I6 and lavare brought into engagement by pin I9 against which they have been. pressedby upward movement of block S. The bolt 2| seated in socket 26 holds the fuze in armed. position. It will be noted that, whilethe parts are. moving from unarmed to arming position, the magnet 241s immobilizedin socket 23 by blockS However, when block has risen, its socket 2Q, registers with socket. 23 and affords a passage for: magnet 24. Y

When. the bomb strikes the submarine or other; object, Athe impact displaces the magnetZlrom; its socket ,2.3, into socket 20 (Fig. 2) andsuch displacement energizes coil i5 suilcientlytoA excite, a sufficient charge through wires W,IW-I, W-2. .and contacts I6 and I8to cause squilliV I4 toffllIlC- tion, thus detonatingthe bomb.

Should the bomb fail to strikethe submarinel or any other object in the water,A and consequently cause no further impact' after it is armed; the hydrostatic diaphragm 21 will' function as soon' as `the bombL has' reachedA thatsubaqueous' depth at4 whichthe Vpressure-is adequate to op erate the diaphragm 2- andthe rod-28 will move the ejector 291to-release-the bolt 2-I fromK socket 26, thereby. releasing. block 9 which-is-theneje'ctedz tether fullest extent by spring. Imitaupper. end;- moying1 into. socket 3 6. in head t., the contacts I ,6; and I8;,moving free of pin, ISLl and separatingL to break the'circuit ofcoil I5and bore II is moved.' out of alignment with bore l, thereby` interrupt-v ing. the lead ini train, and theY fuze is disarmedV (Fig 3).

Should the disarmed bomb be salvaged, the seal 32 can be broken and plug 3l removed from tail 3 to afford access through opened socket 3l) to slide 9 in bore 8, and slide 9 Vmay be restored to its position illustrated in Fig. 1. Ejector 29 is retracted and connected by rod 28 to an unused diaphragm 21, and plug 3l is replaced and seal 32 applied. rihe fuze is now unarmed and the salvaged bomb restored for use.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a fuze for an aerial bomb for attacking a subaqueous target, the combination of an electric squib for ring said bomb; a permanent magnet slidable in said fuse, a eld coil electrically connected with saidsquib and slidable in said fuze into and-out of co-axial relation with said magnet, said magnet being slidable toward said coil wheninco-axial relation; Ameans to maintain said coil outofco-aXi-al relation with said magnet, said .maintaining means being rendered inoperaf tive by the impact of the Ybomb lon the water; and;

net, said magnet being slidable. toward said coilwhen in co-axialrelation to induce a v Oltage therein;y means to maintain said coil out ofk co-Y axial relation with said magnet, said maintaining., means being renderedinoperative bythe impact.`

' of the bomb onthe water; and means toslidethe coil into co-axialrelation with said magnetwhen` said maintaining meansV is inoperative; the sliding` of,Y said magnet,toward` said coil being caused;

said magnet, said magnetbeing slidabletoward said coil. when in co-axiai relation; an electrical circuit connecting said coil with saidA s quib; means to maintain said coil out of co-.axial relation with said magnet andA said circuit open, said maintaining means being rendered inoperativeby; the, impact o the,I bomb on the water; and means to slide thefcoil into omaxial relation with4 said.v magnet, and toclose said circuit when said,

maintaining means is inoperative, the sliding of said magnet toward said coil being caused by the impact of the bomb on the target, and causing saidcoiltoresaidgsquib;

4. In` a fuze for an aerial` bomb for attacking a sub'aqueoustarget, thecombination of an` elec,. tric squib for ring said bomb; a permanent magnel; slidable in said fuze; a field coil slidable'in said fuze into and out of co-axial relation with said` magnet, said:v magnet being slidable ,toward said coil when in co-.axial relation; anV electricalI circuit connecting said coil with said sduib';` means to;- maintain said coil out of co-aXial rela--Y tion with., said magnetandsaid circuit open, said.

maintaining meansbeingrendered inoperative by the impact of the bombon the water; means. toA

slide. the. coil into` co-axial relation with said magnet,v and to close said circuit when said.

maintaining means is inoperative; and means to immobilize said magnet until said impact, said immobilizing means being rendered inoperative when the magnet and coil are brought into coaxial relation, the sliding of said magnet toward said coil being caused by the impact of the bomb on the target and causing said coil to re said squib.

5. In a fuze for an aerial bomb, a body, a block movable in said body, spring means urging said block in one direction of movement, a squib carried by said block, a two-part iiring device for said squib, one said part being carried by said block and the other being carried by said body, latch means normally engaging said block to hold said parts out of cooperative relation, said latch means being releasable in response to initial impact of said bomb to release said block and subsequently to secure the same with said parts in cooperative firing relation, said parts being adapted to cooperate in response to a second impact of said bomb to nre said squib, and means responsive to hydrostatic pressure incident on said bomb for releasing said latch means when said parts are in cooperative relation to thereby permit movement of said block by said spring means, to move said parts out of cooperative relation.

6. In a uze for an aerial bomb for attacking a subaqueous target, a body, a block slidable in a passageway in said body, a detonation-initiating unit in said block, magnetic induction ring means for said unit and comprising a magnet part carried by said body and a solenoid part carried by said block, said parts being cooperable to fire said unit when said block is moved in said body from a first position to a second position, means urging said block from first to second position, releasable means maintaining said block in said first position and adapted to be released by a first impact of said bomb to permit movement of said block to second position, whereby said parts are responsive to a second impact of said bomb for firing said unit, and means responsive to a predetermined hydrostatic pressure incident upon said bomb to again release said block and permit said urging means to move said block and solenoid part out of cooperable relation with said magnet part.

'7. In a fuze for an aerial bomb, a body having a passageway therein, and first, second and third recesses opening into said passageway, a block slidable in said passageway, a squib and a ring circuit therefor carried by said block, said circuit including a solenoid adapted to align with said first recess when said block slides from a rst to a second position, a magnet mounted in said rst recess and immobilized therein by said block when the latter is in rst position, spring means urging said block into second position, a plunger in said block spring-urged outwardly, said plunger being adapted to engage in said second recess to hold said block in first position, and in said third recess to hold said block in second p0- sition, said plunger being responsive to initial impact of said bomb to release said block from rst position and then lock the same in second position, said magnet being movable toward said solenoid in inductive relation therewith in response to a second impact of said bomb to thereby energize said circuit and fire said squib.

8. A fuze, as recited in claim '7, said circuit including adjacent, normally-separated contacts projecting from said block, and means carried by said body and projecting into the path of said contacts to close them when said block moves from first to second position.

9. A fuze, as recited in claim 7, and means responsive to a predetermined hydrostatic pressure incident upon said bomb for releasing said plunger from said third recess and permitting said spring means to move said block and solenoid whereby the latter is moved out of alignment with said magnet and the bomb thereby disarmed.

10. In a fuze for aerial bomb for attacking a subaqueous target, a fuze body having a passage therethrough, a magnet mounted in a recess in the wall of said passage, a block tting said passage and having an opening transversely of said passage, said block being slidable in and along said passage from a iirst position in which said opening is out of alignment with said recess on one side thereof, to successive secondand third positions in which said opening is respectively aligned with and again out of alignment with said recess on the other side thereof, a firing coil in said opening and in inductive relation with said magnet only when said block is in second position, spring means urging said block out of first position toward second and third positions, latch means carried by said block and releasably engageable in a first hole in the wall of said passage to hold said block in rst position, said latch means being released from said iirst hole in response to initial impact of the bomb to permit movement of said block to second position and releasably lock the same in second position by engagement in a second hole in the wall of said passage, said magnet being movable relatively to said coil in response to a second impact of said bomb, only when said block is in second position, a firing circuit in said bomb including said coil, and means responsive to a predetermined external ambient pressure on said bomb to release said latch means from said second hole.

11. In a fuze for an aerial bomb, a fuze body, a block movably mounted in said body, a detonation-initiating unit in said block, firing means for said unit comprising a magnet part carried by said body and a coil part in said block, said parts being relatively movable to induce a voltage in said coil part, on impact, only when said block has moved from a rst to a second position in said body, means urging said block to said second position, latch means acting between said block and body and operable to releasably secure said block in said first position and to release the same in response to initial impact of the bomb and then to again releasably secure the block in second position, whereby a second impact of the bomb induces a ring voltage in said coil, and a ring circuit including said coil.

LEO T. MEISTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name y Date 1,858,969 Ruhlemann May 1'?, 1932 2,183,073 Honger Dec. 12, 1939 2,405,840 Leech Aug. 13, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 503,561 France Mar. 20, 1921 525,333 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1940 

